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Square D Safety Switch

Square D Safety Switches

Setting the standard for perfomance, quality and reliability in todays commercial and industrial applications
Square D safety switches are designed to outperform other switches in a wide range of demanding applications.
First introduced in 1907, Square D safety switches have a long history of leadership in safety and performance. Since then, we have pioneered many innovations to help maximize the lifetime value of our safety switches. Safety switches play a crucial role in todays commercial and industrial settings. They isolate power in daily activities and provide an effective way to interrupt power in an emergency. Two primary applications for safety switches are as a lockout on sight disconnect and as a circuit isolation device.

Key Customer Applications

Sight Disconnect for Motors* Industrial Facilities Retail Construction Water Wastewater Data Centers Automotive Packaging Pharmaceutical, Food, Beverage Commercial OEM
* OSHA Compliance

Service Entrance

Branch Circuit Protection X

X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X

Performance
Three Times the Life Three Times the Value
The performance of safety switches is important to the safe and profitable operation of many industrial settings. In addition, requirements from organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have increased the use of safety switches in many commercial and industrial facilities. The useful life of a safety switch is less than two years based on NEMA KS-1 life test requirements, in lockout/tag out applications where a switch is operated just once per hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For switches in these high-use applications, durability is key. Square D safety switches provide significantly higher levels of mechanical endurance than NEMA KS-1 require. This translates to improved reliability in a production environment. In fact, the standard for the design life of Square D F-Series safety switches is a minimum of three times the NEMA requirement. No competitor comes close to the performance offered by Square D safety switches.

Designed for the Best Performance

A key performance benefit of the Square D safety switch is its ability to break load. A locked motor can draw six to eight times motor full-load current. In an emergency situation, its important to have a switch with enhanced load break capability. A key element of Square D safety switch is their blade and jaw construction designs built to easily manage heavy motor loads and arc interruptions.

Potential Cost Avoidance Due to Square D Switch Life

Operations of switch/ 8-hour shift 1 2 3 4 5
(1)

Operations per year in 24/7 environment 1095 2190 3285 4380 5475

Life of Square D switch in years (1) 45.7 22.8 15.2 11.4 9.1

Life of competitive switch in years (1) 13.7 6.8 4.6 3.4 2.7

Cost avoidance by using Square D (2) $190 $380 $570 $760 $950

Life determination based on 50,000 operations for Square D F-series 30A and 15,000 operations for competition. Actual number of operations will vary based upon electrical load, duty cycle and environmental conditions. Does not include cost of lost productivity. Switch cost replacement: labor = 2 hour @ $45/hour cost of switch @ $100. Maximum usable life of switch assumed to be 20 years.

(2)

Quality
Safety First
Square D safety switches are above all else built to increase safety. Visible blades are an important feature, and they must be visible in real-world conditions to visually verify that the down-stream circuit is de-energized. Our switch blades are easily visible, even in the less than ideal lighting conditions where electrical equipment is often installed. An optional view window adds another degree of safety through visual verification of switch position without the need to open the door. In addition, the design of the Square D safety switch includes an oversized arc suppressor, a key feature in the ability of the switch to break the load by effectively attenuating the arc for a clean interruption.

Efficient Installation
Our time-saving design features make installation quick and easy. Square D safety switches feature quick-release cover latches that are easier to operate than screw-fasteners. On Type 4X and Type 12 switches, this design feature ensures a better gasket seal a critical feature in adverse operating conditions than is available with designs that rely on screw-fastened covers. Tangential knock outs enable easier installation of conduit, without the need for costly, timeconsuming offsets and bends.

Designed for Long-Term Durability

Rugged construction and corrosion protection provide the industrys longest lasting switches. Galvannealed steel in all single-throw Type 3R and 12 enclosures provides superior corrosion protection. Type 4X seam-welded enclosures help extend equipment life by providing excellent environmental and corrosion protection without the use of a silicone sealer, which can be incompatible with some manufacturing processes. Managing temperatures inside the switch is essential to providing greater service life. Square D safety switches feature more copper than other switches available on the market today. This larger amount of copper is one of the reasons Square D safety switches have lower operating temperatures. Heat is not the only factor that impacts switch life. The enclosed operating mechanism design of Square D safety switches reduces the amount of dust and other contaminants that shorten the mechanisms operating life.

Mechanical Endurance Requirements for UL, NEMA and F-Series Switches

Number of Operations**
Switch Rating (Amps) 30 & 60 100 200 UL 98 NEMA KS 1 General-Duty 10,000 10,000 8,000 NEMA KS 1 Heavy-Duty 15,000 14,000 12,000 E-Series Reqmts. 50,000 50,000 36,000*

A Full Range of Accessories

Square D safety switches feature a complete offering of accessories, available either factory installed or field installable. Factory-installed options include key interlocks, nameplates, push buttons and optional safety colors. Field-installable accessory options include neutral kit, ground lugs, electrical interlocks, Class R fuse rejection kits, compression terminals and conduit hubs.

10,000 10,000 8,000

* Single-throw switches only ** Actual number of operations may vary based on environmental conditions

Short Circuit Current Ratings

UL Listed Fuse Class Plug H K J R T L General-Duty RMS Sym Amps 10,000 10,000 10,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 Heavy-Duty RMS Sym Amps NA 10,000 10,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000

Reliability
Cost-Saving Maintenance
Advanced maintenance features extend switch life and reduce down time, saving both labor and material costs. The Square D safety switch modular design allows the replacement of all interior worn or damaged components. Field-replaceable components such as interior line bases, load bases and mechanisms are available. In addition, handles and lockplates are also replaceable if they are damaged or vandalized. In addition, Square D Type 4X and 12 safety switches come standard with fuse pullers, increasing the convenience and safety of maintenance. Fuse pullers are also field-installable on certain models.

Tamper-Resistant Enclosure
Resolving lockout issues is a priority with major industrials. Square D F-Series safety switches have an extruded lockplate feature that helps prevent tampering with lockout devices. The lockplate opening is extruded to reduce the possibility of lockout devices being removed by non-authorized personnel. With the use of the handle lockplate, the switch can be locked in the OFF position with up to three padlocks to comply with OSHA lockout requirements. The safety switch can also be modified so that the switch can be locked in the ON position, if required by the application. Heavy-duty dual cover interlocks are key safety features on single throw and double throw heavy duty switches. These prevent the opening of the cover when the switch is ON or turning the switch ON when the cover is open. Qualified personnel can also defeat this feature allowing them to perform any necessary testing.

Operation and Safety

Nothing is as important in the design of a switch as understanding how it will be used. To ensure Square D safety switches continue to meet the needs of commercial and industrial applications, products are engineered with the operational procedures and safe work practices of customers in mind.

Superior Handle Design

The Square D F-Series insulated switch handle is an industry exclusive. It is made from a high-strength polymer chosen for weather resistance, durability and impact strength. The two-color position-indicating handle on heavy duty safety switches enhances operator safety by aiding in visual recognition of switch position from an angle or at a distance. The simple concept of having contrasting colors on the handle enhances the ability of the operator to determine quickly the position of the switch, even in low light conditions. In an emergency, it is vital that switch position be accurately recognizable. Plus, an embossed on/off marking is a permanent indication of the switch position and cannot be removed or vandalized.

Catalog Numbering System for Safety Switches

D 3 2 1 N RB

Enclosure
No Suffix = Type 1 A = Type 12K AWK = Type 12 (without knock out) DS = Types 4, 4X, 5 (304 stainless steel) SS = Types 4, 4x, 5 (316 stainless steel) CS = Cast aluminum DX = Type 4X KRYDON Crouse-Hinds R = Type 3R RB = Type 3R (Type B hub provision) DF = Type 4X fiberglass reinforced polyester

Neutral
N = Factory-installed neutral (neutrals are field installable on most general duty and heavy duty safety switches)

Ampere Rating
1 = 30A 2 = 60A 3 = 100A 4 = 200A 5 = 400A 6 = 600A 7 = 800A 8 = 1200A

Voltage Rating
1 = 120Vac (Plug fuse) 2 = 240Vac 6 = 600Vac For DC ratings, see the latest catalog listing.

Blades Switchable Poles

1 = 1-pole 2 = 2-pole 3 = 3-pole 4 = 4-pole 6 = 6-pole

Type of switch
Fusible: L = Light Duty D = General Duty H = Heavy Duty DT = Double Throw Non-fusable: DU = General Duty HU = Heavy Duty DTU = Double Throw

Miscellaneous
EI or EI2 = Factory-installed electrical interlock CLR = Class R fuse kits FP = Fuse pullers GL = Ground lugs SLC = Copper lugs LK = Compression lugs SPLO = Lock on VW = Viewing window NP = Phenolic legend plate KI = One-key interlock KIKI = Two-key interlocks WA = Appleton Powertite Interlocked receptacle WC = Crouse-Hinds Arktite interlocked receptacle WH = Hubbellock interlocked receptacle

For Types 7 & 9 construction, see the latest catalog listing 6

Catalog Numbering System for MD50 Motor Disconnect Switches

MD 4 20 MI 9

Plug only
W = Water tight

Clock position of female grounding contact

380-415Vac 2 wire 3-pole 125/250Vac 3 wire 4-pole

3250Vac 3 wire 4-pole 3Y120/208Vac 4 wire 5-pole 480Vac 2 wire-3 pole 3480Vac 3 wire-4 pole 3Y277/480VAC 4 wire 5-pole 380-415Vac 3 wire 4-pole 220/380-240/415Vac 4 wire 5-pole

10 9 8

11 12 1

2 3 4

380V 50Hz 3 wire 4-pole 440V 60Hz 3 wire 4-pole 125Vac 2 wire 3-pole 3600Vac 3 wire 4-pole 3347/600Vac 4 wire 5-pole 277Vac 2 wire 3-pole

7 6 5

250Vac 2 wire 3-pole Key Way at Bottom

Mechanical interlock
MI = Mechanical interlock non-fusible MIF = Mechanical interlock fusible P = Plug

Ampere rating
20 = 20A 30 = 30A 60 = 60A 100 = 100A

Number of wires
1 = 1 wire 2 = 2 wire 3 = 3 wire 4 = 4 wire 5 = 5 wire

Type of switch
MD = In sight motor disconnect operating switch ME = Plug

The Most Complete Line of Switches in the Industry

Amp Range General-Duty Heavy-Duty 4 Pole Heavy-Duty 6 Pole Heavy-Duty Double-Throw Double-Throw Interlock Receptacle Switches (1) (2)d (2) Hazardous Location Switches
30 - 800 30 - 1200 30 - 600 30 - 200 30 - 100 200 - 600 30 - 100 60 - 225

Vac Max.
240 600 600 600 600 600 600 600

Vdc Max.
600 600 600 250 250 250

Fusible
Fusible and Non-Fusible Fusible and Non-Fusible Fusible and Non-Fusible Fusible and Non-Fusible Fusible and Non-Fusible Non-Fusible Fusible and Non-Fusible Non-Fusible

Enclosure Type
Type 1, 3R Type 1, 3R, 4, 4X Stainless Steel, 5, 12 Type 1, 3R, 4X Stainless Steel, 12 Type 1, 3R, 4X Stainless Steel, 12 Type 1, 3R, 4X Stainless Steel, 12 Type 1, 3R, 4X Stainless Steel, 12 Type 1, 3R, 4, 4X Stainless Steel, 5, 12 Type 7 and 9 Divisions 1 and 2 of the following: Class 1, Groups C and D, Class 2, Groups E and F; on Class 3, Hazardous Locations as defined in NEC Article 500

(1) (2)

Appleton POWERTITE, Crouse-Hinds ARKTITE and HUBBELLOCK receptacles. The MD50 motor disconnect is a pin and sleeve interlocked switch receptacle listed UL 508 Suitable As Motor Disconnect in one compact Type 4X enclosure. Compatible with IEC 60309-2 plug configurations, the MD50 UL 508 switch with a receptacle interlock allows motor driven equipment and motors to be moved into and out of a given space when necessary. A key safety feature is the interlock switch design that requires an operator to turn off the load before removing the machine plug from a receptacle. Type 1 (indoor), Type 3R (outdoor), Type 4, 4X, 5 (water and dusttight, corrosion resistant) (cast aluminum, stainless steel, glass polyester or KRYDON), Type 12 (mill and foundry type). Switches are UL Listed (UL 98 Enclosed Switches) and meet or exceed the NEMA KS1 standard unless otherwise noted.

Schneider Electric - North American Operating Division

1415 S. Roselle Road Palatine, IL 60067 Tel: 847-397-2600 Fax: 847-925-7500 Document Number 3100BR9801R8/08 08-08 lb

2008 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.